In this age when ‘disruption’ is the buzzword, workplace methods and means are being re-defined too. For example, the traditional learning and development modules are being replaced by quick videos – which can be watched LIVE or played repeatedly later – and where the learners can ask doubts, questions in real-time and share these videos too.

Welcome to working in the age of social media.

Workplace by Facebook is a communications platform from social media giant Facebook and is aimed at corporates to collaborate better.
TimesJobs spoke to
Ramesh Gopalkrishna, Head – APAC, Workplace by Facebook about how the platform is working in India, where the business and communications rationales are diametrically opposite than the rest of the world.

TimesJobs: Since launch in India, how many organisations have adopted Workplace by Facebook?Ramesh Gopalkrishna: The Workplace team at Facebook has grown significantly from a single team in London, to an international team across three continents - North America, Europe and Asia. More than 30,000 organisations use Workplace by Facebook globally and over 800 companies in India use Workplace. From big companies like Reliance, Marico, L&T Infotech, to small companies like Jugnoo, Delhivery we have a decent user base. Vedanta group recently moved to Workplace. Further, India is among the top five countries using Workplace, others include Norway, US, UK and France. Workplace has more than 1,000,000 work groups.

TimesJobs: What is the size bucket of organisations adopting Workplace by Facebook? What sectors do most organisations belong to? Ramesh Gopalkrishna: We have a good mix of companies from various sectors – big and small - adopting Workplace. We have on board Sterlite, Vedanta, Mahindra and Mahindra, the entire Reliance group, Godrej, Marico, Pidilite, Airtel, Ginger Hotels and many other names from all sectors. We have players even from not-for-profit space like the Tata Trust and others. One common thread is that these companies are keen on bringing in a transparent work culture, and want to bring in good talent and retain it.

TimesJobs: FB's learning from India Inc. as compared to other countries?Ramesh Gopalkrishna: Typically most companies go through three stages when adopting Workplace by Facebook. First is using it like a communication platform, where you want to connect with all colleagues (from front-line staff to mid-managers) and talk and discuss your company’s vision etc. Second stage is when people start moving work to Workplace, by creating groups on Workplace platform and start moving the email conversations to groups. And stage three is typically when companies automate businesses by using bots on Workplace.
Interestingly, in India many companies have started using Workplace from stage three straight away. Indian companies seem faster in adopting the change and bringing it into practise. For example, Vedanta launched Workplace for its 13,000 employees and on launch day they executed a ‘Chairman connect’ where any employee could share his work-related idea and suggestion straight with the chairman (Mr Anil Agarwal). Employees could just log in the mobile app and submit their idea instantly to the chairman.
We have seen companies using workplace for employee training, taking feedback and other tasks.

TimesJobs: Which features are most used in Workplace by Facebook from India Inc?Ramesh Gopalkrishna: Normally companies want to go step by step, but in India we have seen companies quickly adopting all features. We have seen Indian companies behave very agile and quick when adopting Workplace.

TimesJobs: In India Emotional Quotient rules over Work Quotient. Is the workforce ready/getting ready for workplace changes? Ramesh Gopalkrishna: Absolutely, look at the demographics in India. We have the largest pool of millennials who have grown up in the age of apps, not even emails. Hence it is more important in India – as compared to any other country – that the workforce is empowered and tools to engage and retain them are new-age too.

TimesJobs: Are new-age tools like Workplace by Facebook suitable for urban, savvy, new-age workforce only? Comment pls. Ramesh Gopalkrishna: Workplace is available in 21 Indian languages. We have seen companies working in rural Karnataka, sharing communication in Kannada. Ginger Hotels have 27 hotels all over India. They have connected their staff – from cooks, to cleaning staff – on Workplace and needless to say that most communication happens on regional language. Hence its just a myth that these tools work for urban users only.

TimesJobs: Any case study that you would like to share. Ramesh Gopalkrishna: The Reliance group has a massive staff strength. One of its arm, the Reliance insurance, has more than 600 branches. They use Workplace to enhance employee productivity. Every morning they post a training video to the groups of these branches and the members can ask questions, inquires right away. The entire L&D process of the offline world is happening in real-time.